I'll never forget the time my son Charlie, seven years old at the time and with endless energy, said from the backseat of the car on the way home from another soccer practice: "Mom I just don't wanna chase a ball around."
"Well, you have to do something" I thought, as a former athlete and strong supporter of the value of teamwork, physical activity, and being outside as much as possible- but what outdoor group activity was there for a kid to do without a ball involved?
"Let's go ride bikes" was our reliable go-to for getting energy out, but riding with mom was getting boring. Fast-forward to discovering Trailblasters and other activities for youth that Northampton Cycling Club (Trailblasters cyclocross, Friday rec mountain bike rides, summer fun races, so much more) and New England Youth Cycling (River Valley Rumble and Riot youth MTB teams) offer and now my son has found his "thing".
The amount he has grown in maturity, confidence, sportsmanship, and riding skills and endurance is tremendous. Opportunities for youth cycling are not nearly common enough for kids who don't want to chase a ball around, and I have since gone all-in to supporting youth cycling in our area through coaching, volunteering to support events, and spreading the word about youth opportunities. The problem I've seen repeatedly, though, is that the sport is difficult to access for kids who aren't from "bike families", especially given expensive gear and race entry fees. I don't want access to safe equipment to be the barrier to more kids discovering cycling as a sport. I've seen firsthand how JAM Fund supports athletes in our region, and I'm hoping you will support them too for this Fundo fundraising drive. For this, me and Charlie (9) are going to ride 30 miles and 3000 feet climbs of mixed surface terrain; Corinna (6) will do 12 miles of flatter terrain. Sure, we will have fun doing this whether you donate or not. But you should donate what you can anyway to help other kids have fun too.
How does JAM help? The JAM Fund awards grants to young cyclists who show enthusiasm, determination and desire to be their best. They also showcase some of the amazing cycling that the Pioneer Valley offers! Every dollar raised through the Fundo goes directly to the JAM Fund.
Thanks for your generous support!
JAM Fund Grand Fundo at the Cummington Fairgrounds
This year's GRAND FUNDO is Sunday, July 12th, 2026. Thank you for your generosity and supporting the JAM Fund program!
Enjoy camping at the fairgrounds, music, food and of course, our incredible bike rides! BACK this year is our famous TIKI PLUNGE waterslide!
Dust off your tent and camping gear and join us on Saturday night at the fairgrounds. We'll have a shakeout ride and swim on Saturday afternoon as well. On Sunday, we'll have staging by the fairground bleachers at 8:45 a.m. and roll out at 9:00 a.m.
The routes are mostly gravel and double track. We suggest 40c tires and 1:1 for a climbing gear minimum. Bring a bathing suit and take a dip in the sweet rivers and lakes along the routes.
Each year, the JAM Fund provides grants to developing cyclists who demonstrate a commitment to the sport and show enthusiasm to be their best on and off the bike. If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply so we can help support your dreams. The JAM Fund Grant comes in the form of financial support and/or equipment and may also include professional training. Cyclists between the age of 12 and 28 may apply.
In some cases, grant recipients move through the ranks of our program and work toward joining our fully-supported JAM Fund Cycling Team. Grant applicants are not required to race. They just need to love bikes or really want to try one. JAM Fund has supported more than 200 cyclists over the years. Grant recipients are formally announced during a special presentation at our July Grand Fundo, and recipients are required to attend. Recipients and their family will gain free entry to the event. We thank our donors and supporters that allow us to have such a successful development program.